Follow live coverage as Manchester City face Aston Villa today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Manchester City FC 2 - 1 Aston Villa FC
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
22:09Striking deep into stoppage time, Manchester City provide a dramatic twist in the Premier League's top-five fight, as they pip Aston Villa to three precious points at the Etihad. A moment of magic from Doku set up Nunes to score his first goal of the season, sending the home fans wild and taking City four points above Villa in the table - they now sit third. The hosts had much more of the ball but were guilty of some wayward finishing, with only an early Bernardo Silva strike to show for their efforts within normal time. Rashford's equaliser from the penalty spot seemed sufficient for Unai Emery's side to secure a valuable draw, but they were undone at the last and stay seventh in the standings. Though City finished with an xG of 1.09 to Villa's 1.68, they took twice as many shots, and they were ultimately deserving winners. Having played their 34th league fixture today, both teams will now feature in the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend - City meet Nottingham Forest, while Villa play Crystal Palace - and they could soon reconvene in the cup final. That's all from Manchester today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
22:01FULL-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 2-1 ASTON VILLA
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:58Substitution Kevin De Bruyne Manuel Obafemi Akanji
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:56Assist Jérémy Baffour Doku
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:56Nunes wins a corner by forcing McGinn to make a block near the byline. From the subsequent set-piece, De Bruyne's latest delivery picks out Dias, whose tame looping header is gathered gratefully by Martinez in the centre of his goal.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:55Goal Matheus Luiz Nunes
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:54There will be at least five more minutes for either side to win it, as stoppage time is confirmed by the officials. One moment of magic - or madness - could yet make all the difference.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:52Gesticulating wildly on the touchline, both Emery and Guardiola are frantically urging one last effort from their players. A late, late winner could prove pivotal in securing Champions League qualification, so there's plenty of tension in the air.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:51Following Asensio's corner, which is not fully cleared, Malen tries his luck from the edge of the box. Lacking sufficient pace, the sub's shot drifts straight through to Ortega.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:47Yellow Card Bernardo Mota Veiga de Carvalho e Silva
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:47A loose touch by Bernardo Silva ends City's latest attack and almost allows Aston Villa to counter. However, the move quickly breaks down. Emery's men have managed just one shot since half-time - and that missed the target.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:47Substitution Morgan Elliot Rogers Donyell Malen
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:46Yellow Card Oliver George Arthur Watkins
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:45Slipped through by Gundogan's low pass, Marmoush is left unmarked in the box, and he takes a touch before coolly picking out the bottom-left corner. However, the assistant's flag is immediately raised, as he was at least one yard offside.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:44Digne sees a cross claimed by Ortega, seconds before Bernardo Silva's throughball is cut out at the other end. This game - a crucial contest in the Premier League's top-five battle - remains in the balance.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:38Yellow Card Matheus Luiz Nunes
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:37Marmoush shoots well wide of the right-hand post when O'Reilly's nod down is not fully cleared, allowing Gundogan to lay it off in the box. Aston Villa are on the ropes now.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:37Substitution Amadou Ba Zeund Georges Mvom Onana Marco Asensio Willemsen
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:37Substitution Marcus Rashford Oliver George Arthur Watkins
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:36With six shots, seven corners and more than two-thirds of the ball, City have clearly been on top throughout this second half. Can they make such dominance pay, though? Or will Villa hang on for a valuable draw?
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:35Substitution James John McAtee Jérémy Baffour Doku
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:33De Bruyne sends in yet another corner-kick, and Gvardiol leaps highest to meet it. Once more, City can't find a finish, as his header spins high over the crossbar.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:32CHANCE! Two young guns combine, as O'Reilly crosses low from the left, picking out McAtee's run into the box. However, the latter can't cleanly connect with his shot, which Martinez easily stops.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:31Yellow Card Joško Gvardiol
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:30CHANCE! Swivelling to shoot from 20 yards out, Kovacic meets a half-cleared ball by firing through a packed penalty box, but Martinez makes a straightforward stop. Villa then counter at pace, but Rashford prods a tame shot into the side-netting from a tight angle.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:25CLOSE! McAtee almost finds the net with an audacious lob! Played through by De Bruyne on the left, he allows the ball to bounce before trying to beat Martinez with a lofted shot. However, it skips just a few inches wide of the right-hand post! City are getting closer.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:24While both teams will be involved in this weekend's FA Cup semi-finals - which is why this game has been brought forward - they are fully focused on finishing today's clash with maximum points. At the moment, Manchester City seem the likeliest winners, and Opta's live win predictor has their chances at 39% to Villa's 21%.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:22Substitution Jacob Matthew Ramsey John McGinn
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:22Substitution Matthew Stuart Cash Axel Wilson Arthur Disasi Mhakinis Belho
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:21The latest in a series of De Bruyne corners, this time delivered from the right, is met by Dias, and the defender's first-time volley strikes Kamara on the leg. It flies behind for yet another corner-kick.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:19Skewing a half-chance well wide of the target, O'Reilly mishits his shot from the edge of the area. Still, City are applying more pressure, hoping that their visitors will crack.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:16City's third straight corner is delivered by De Bruyne, but this one is sent straight towards Martinez in the six-yard box. As the Villa goalkeeper then rolls the ball out, he's accidentally clipped by Gundogan, then dramatically collapses to the turf. After a brief stoppage of play, he's ultimately able to play on.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:14Onana intervenes to deny Gvardiola a close-range chance, as McAtee sends over an inviting free-kick from the left. From the subsequent corner, Gvardiol's flick-on is cleared behind by Cash. City are on top.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:11Following Rashford's penalty in the first half, City have now conceded 22 goals at home this season - their worst tally since the 2003-04 campaign, with two games still to play. It's been a season to forget, but salvaging a top-five finish would avert disaster. There's also the FA Cup and new Club World Cup to play for.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:11Yellow Card Morgan Elliot Rogers
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:09Manchester City kick off, and we are back under way at the Etihad!
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
21:04A draw would move Manchester City up to fourth and Aston Villa up to sixth, but there's plenty of time for this scoreline to change. While City have lost just one of their last 16 Premier League games which were level at half-time - winning 10 - Villa have also performed well after the interval in recent weeks. During their current run of five successive league wins, Emery's men were level at the break in four - so a compelling second half surely awaits.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:58All square at half-time, Champions League contenders Manchester City and Aston Villa have played out an eventful first half at the Etihad, each side scoring within the first 18 minutes. After City went in front through Bernardo Silva's early strike - which was helped into the net by Martinez - Villa bit back, as Ramsey was felled by Dias in the box and VAR persuaded the referee to award a penalty. On his return to Manchester, Rashford - who had struck the post after 17 seconds - stepped up to convert the spot-kick, making it 1-1. The visitors have an xG of 1.35 so far, compared to their hosts' 0.52, but City have bossed the ball. It's all set up for a fascinating second half, as both teams continue their quest for a top-five finish.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:52HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 ASTON VILLA
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:51Left with some space to cross from the right, McAtee's cross is slightly overhit, giving Marmoush little chance of controlling it. The Egyptian striker can only divert the ball straight out of play for a Villa goal-kick.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:49As a result of the VAR delay for Villa's penalty, and a few other stoppages, there will be at least four minutes added to the end of this first half.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:49After Villa win their first corner-kick, Onana towers above everyone else in the box. However, he gets his attempt all wrong from 10 yards out, powering an off-target header straight at O'Reilly.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:45Rashford's free-kick from the right touchline is headed away by Gundogan, sparking a quick counter-attack. However, it soon runs out of steam and Aston Villa regain possession. With half-time fast approaching, can either side edge in front?
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:44SAVE! Sent away by Digne's searching pass up from the back, Rashford takes one touch to lose his marker, but he then can't find a way past Ortega, who was proactive in narrowing the angle. City's stand-in goalkeeper makes a good stop with his legs!
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:42With a 68% share of possession so far, Manchester City are certainly the dominant side. Opta's live win predictor also has them as favourites to prevail, as things stand, with a 46% chance of claiming maximum points compared to Aston Villa's 25%.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:40Marmoush looks to the sky in frustration, as he mistimes his 10-yard header from an O'Reilly cross. Getting under the ball, he lifts it high over the crossbar - that was at least a half-chance.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:37As is customary, Martinez takes his time to distribute the ball from a goal-kick, drawing jeers from the home fans - and more protests from Guardiola. Eventually, he restarts play.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:36Yellow Card Lucas Digne
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:36Gvardiol leaps highest at the near post, meeting De Bruyne's inswinging corner, but he can't control his header, which misses the target. City are pushing for another goal before half-time, but it's still a finely poised game.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:34Following a long throw-in from the left, Onana's flick-on causes chaos in the City box. First, Konsa tries to turn the ball goalwards, before ex-City man Rogers fails to get a shot off. The hosts clear their lines.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:32Apparently caught in the chest by Ramsey's stray boot, Bernardo Silva hits the deck. It's a mixture of pain and fury for the Portuguese playmaker, who clearly thinks the Villa midfielder should be booked. The referee disagrees.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:31Offered room to advance from midfield and shoot, Kovacic fires toward the bottom corner from around 20 yards out, but Martinez drops down to make a fairly straightforward stop.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:30So often a thorn in the side, Rashford has now scored six league goals against Manchester City, with all six either putting his side one goal up (four) or drawing them level (two). In fact, only Wayne Rooney (six) and Jamie Vardy (five) have more Premier League goals as a visiting player at the Etihad (four).
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:28As City aim to regain their lead, De Bruyne meets Marmoush's cross from the left flank, but his glancing header is sent straight at Martinez, who this time deals with the danger.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:25There's still a hint of bitterness around the Etihad following the VAR's intervention to award Villa a penalty. Guardiola was booked for his protests in the aftermath, and that anger might be fuel to the fire. This high-stakes game is set up perfectly now.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:24After Martinez makes another error, failing to pick out a team-mate with his pass, he earns partial redemption by smothering Marmoush's subsequent attempt to shoot. The Egyptian strike seized possession and then drove into the box, but he couldn't quite beat Villa's goalkeeper.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:21PENALTY AWARDED! Having reviewed his original decision, the referee points straight to the spot! Ramsey was fouled by Dias, so Aston Villa will have a great chance to equalise from the spot!
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:20PENALTY CHECK! After play continues for a short while, the VAR steps in! Dias did clip Ramsey in the box, according to the off-field officials, so the referee will review the incident on his pitchside monitor. It could be a spot-kick for Aston Villa!
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:19Penalty Goal Marcus Rashford
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:18Though Ramsey is brushed by Dias in the City box, following a rapid Rashford-led counter, the referee doesn't see enough in the challenge to award a penalty. Play goes on, despite Villa's protests.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:17City have now scored 37 first-half goals in 34 games, more than any other team in the Premier League this season, and scoring the opener has certainly settled their nerves. The hosts are dominating possession now, looking composed on the ball.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:15This is the first time that Villa have trailed in a Premier League game since losing 4-1 at Crystal Palace in February, having not been behind for a single minute in any of their last five games before tonight. Can they respond to this early setback?
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:14Flattened by a clearance from O'Reilly, Tielemans is left down on the pitch after being struck by the ball with full force. Soon enough, he is able to return to his feet, albeit looking a little bit dazed.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:09While Aston Villa have lost on their last 14 league visits to the Etihad, they've actually have won two of their last three games against Manchester City overall - as many wins as they'd managed in the 23 games prior. The gap has certainly narrowed of late.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:08Goal Bernardo Mota Veiga de Carvalho e Silva
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:07After Cash crosses low from the right, first Tielemans and then Ramsey almost engineer space to strike inside the City area. Eventually - and quite nervily - the home side scramble the ball away.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:05Stunned into action by nearly going a goal down inside 20 seconds, City push forward and win a corner. Villa deal with it comfortably, though. The early signs are promising - this could be an open contest.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:03OFF THE POST! Rashford almost opens the scoring! Seconds after kick-off, the Manchester United-owned striker slips away from Dias with some neat footwork, then drives a low shot towards the bottom-right corner. However, it thuds off the base of the post - so close!
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
20:02Aston Villa kick off, and we are under way at the Etihad!
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:59Both teams are out on the pitch, so kick-off in this crucial Premier League contest is now just moments away!
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:59Headlining five changes to the Aston Villa team that beat Newcastle, Rashford is back in the starting XI upon his return to Manchester. Pau Torres starts at the expense of Mings, who has been left out of the squad. Captain McGinn joins top scorer Watkins on the bench.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:54McAtee and Kovacic return to Manchester City's starting XI, with the latter making his 200th Premier League appearance; Nico Gonzalez and Savinho drop down to the bench. With Ederson still sidelined by a groin injury, Ortega continues in goal. Of course, Rodri, Nathan Ake, Erling Haaland and John Stones are also unavailable.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:54SUBS: Robin Olsen, Axel Disasi, Ross Barkley, John McGinn, Ollie Watkins, Andres Garcia, Donyell Malen, Marco Asensio, Ian Maatsen.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:48ASTON VILLA (4-3-2-1): Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne; Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana; Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey; Marcus Rashford.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:48SUBS: Scott Carson, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, Nico Gonzalez, Manuel Akanji, Savinho, Abdukodir Khusanov, Phil Foden, Rico Lewis.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:43Enjoying another fine season under Unai Emery, Aston Villa are aiming to secure back-to-back campaigns in Europe's top competition, but they lie one point behind City in seventh as things stand. Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Newcastle United was the Birmingham club's ninth win in 10 games, with their sole setback coming away to Paris Saint-Germain. After a 2-1 success in December’s reverse fixture, Villa now aim to do the league double over today’s hosts for the first time since 1963 - that would take them above City into fourth.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:43MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Stefan Ortega; Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nico O'Reilly; Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic; Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, James McAtee; Omar Marmoush.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:38Following a recent revival, Manchester City sit fifth in the Premier League table, occupying the final Champions League spot - they would move up to third with another win today. The outgoing champions won 2-0 away to Everton at the weekend, and Pep Guardiola has now seen his side take 10 points from four matches while keeping three clean sheets. Furthermore, City have come out on top in all of their last 14 top-flight home games against Aston Villa, scoring at least twice in the last 13.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
19:33Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Premier League clash between Manchester City and Aston Villa!
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
18:00Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
